Portable picnic chest having detachable table top



May 2,. 1950 H. A. JAFFE ETAL PORTABLE PICNIC CHEST HAVING DETAC HABLE TABLE TOP Filed Feb. 26, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l mm mm Im'cutor Hyman A. Jaffe Herbert L. Feiner y 1950 H. A. JAFFE ETAL 2,505,898

PORTABLE PICNIC CHEST HAVING DETACHABLE TABLE TOP Filed Feb. 26. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 V l 22 I8 U J 1 I4 Flg. 2. ze "54 5 26 I8 g 3 7" sol Fig. 4.

lm'vutor -I2 Hyman A. Jaffe I Herbert L Finer Q j 406%.

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PORTABLE-PICNIC CHEST HAVING DETACHABLE TABLE TOP Filed Feb. 26, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 II/l'uulor. Hyman A. Jaffe Herbert L. Feiner Patented May 2, 1950 STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE PICNIC EHES'I HAVING DETACHABLE TABLE TOP Hyman A. Jafi'e and Herbert L. Felner,

Bronx, N

ll Claim. i

This invention appertains to novel and useful improvements in picnic chests or boxes adaptedto be particularly useful at picnics and the like.

This invention has been developed to aid in carrying all of the articles generally used in picnicking including foodstuffs, glasses, knives, forks, and trays. The invention contemplates the use of'the cover of the retaining means for these articles to provide a table or tray for holding a plurality of glasses in order that the glasses might not be inadvertently tipped over thereby losing the contents thereof.

An object of this invention is to provide a housing with a table top slidably received therein which is adapted to be used for various and sundry purposes, including therewith means for retaining receptacles such as glasses, means for carrymg said housing and slidable cover, and means for supporting the cover when removed for use as a table.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for holding and retaining various tableware items in said housing, so as to be convenient for access.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mechanically simple and practicable device for conveniently retaining food, tableware and all other items which might be required or deemed desirable during picnics and the like.

Other objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art or will be specifically pointed out in the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invent on, showing the same with the door and cover partially open;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure l and taken on the line t-t thereof and in the direction of the arrows but showing the door and cover in closed position;

Figur 3 is a transverse sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure 1 and taken substantially on the line 3-3 thereof and in the direction of the arrows but showing the door and cover in closed position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure 1, taken substantially on the line l-t thereof and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

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any suitable material including plastics, light metal, wood or the like. The rounded edges l2 are provided for the obvious purpose of cleanliness and eas in keeping germ laden material from conventional right-angular corners. This difflcult-y is obviated by the use of the arcuately configured corners.

A pair of longitudinal confronting grooves M are provided in sidewalls of the housing llll. A third groove 16 is provided as a continuation of the grooves it on a rear wall of said housing in. A substantially flat cover means it is provided with flanges or runners 20 on the side and rear edges thereof. It is apparent from an inspection of Figure 1, that the cover is adapted to be slidably and removably received in said housing it through the medium of the runners 2i] guided in. said grooves it and it. A plurality of recesses 22 are provided in th upper surface of said cover means i 8 and are adapted to receive conventional receptacles o glasses therein. It is quite apparent that receptacles placed in said recesses are not easily tipped over. A handle means is provided in said cover. The construction of said handle means is as follows: Legs of a substantially U-shaped member 24 extend through .suitable apertures 26 in said cover means it. A shaft ill extends through the terminal portions of the legs of said U-shaped member and a handle 32 is swingingly received on said shaft. A recess t l may be provided in said cover means between. said apertures it for receiving the handle grip lit therein. A continuous apron it depends from. the lower surface of said cover it and is adapted to be used as supporting means for said cover It, upon removal of the cover from the housing it.

A projecting bight 38 on the front edge of one side wall of the housing it is provided with a longitudinal bore it therethrough and said bight is coplanar with said side wall. A door ill is hingedly secured to the front edge of the other side wall by any suitable conventional hinge means. A pair of projecting bights lit and it are vertically aligned on the free edge of said door 3 6i and bores 48 are provided therein. A latch keeper in the form or a rod 38 is adapted to be received in the bores 48, 48. It can be seen from an inspection of Figure 1 that said bight portions 42 and 44 are adapted to be aligned in. Jux taposition with said bight 38. It is quite apparent that by this construction a convenient and effective locking means is provided.

A plurality of receptacles 5d are provided for the door of said housing Stand are adapted to I receive various and sundry articles therein. Such articles as amirror, pencil and pad, current literature, medication and the like maybe received in said receptacles 56. Reference is now made to Figure 9 wherein it can be readily seen thatv a plurality of apertures 52 are provided in the bottom of each of said receptacles 5t to facilitate washing. Obviously, liquids would be drained through these apertures.

Guide rails 54 are provided on the side. walls interiorly of said housing it and are oppositely aligned in order to receive a removable partition 56. The primary purpose of this partition is to retain articles of food within said housing, in spaced relation to the door M.

A substantially U-shaped bracket 5t is provided on ,a selected side wall of the said housing in and is adapted to receive picnic trays 8t therein. The opposite wall is provided with a pair of right-angular tongues t2 whereon glasses or other conventional receptacles may be mounted. Another right-angular clip til is provided on the same wall ior holding napkins or the like.

On the Wall opposite said door there is provided a pair of perches 56 adapted to receive condiment shakers therein. Between said perches there is a holder 58 adapted to receive one or a plurality of articles of cutlery therein. Beneath said holder is a compartmented strip it for receiving knives, forks, spoons in the like therein.

It can be seen that a device for holding substantially all of the tableware, food and other accessories required or desired in picniclring is provided. It is further apparent that a device has been described herein above, capable of performing all the specifically mentioned objects of the invention as well as many others. Since there has been but a single preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated, and since it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes including omissions and additions may be made without departing from the function of the invention, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claim. It is her noted that the table top with its runners 20, and the grooves I4 and 16, are constructed so as to support the weight of the fully stocked chest when being lifted and carried.

Having thus described the instant invention I what is claimed as novel and improved is as follows:

A picnic box comprising a substantially rectangular housing having back, bottom and side walls, an open top, and an open front, a continuous groove in said back and side walls, said groove being spaced from and parallel to the top edge of said back and side walls, a rectangular panel forming a closure for said open top and having a continuous flange around three sides to engage said groove, whereby said panel is removably and slidably secured to said housing, an extensible handle slidably attached to said panel, means for retaining receptacles on the upper side of said panel, supporting means depending from said panel whereby said panel may be used as a table when separated from said housing, a door for said open front pivotally secured to one side wall of said housing, said door extending to said upper side of said panel, means for locking said door to the opposite side wall, whereby said panel can be immovably secured relative to said housing so that the boxcan be carried by said handle.

HYMAN A. JAFFE. (HER-BERT L. FEINER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 274,021 Oberle Mar. 13, 1883 638,032 Scully Nov. 28, 1899 1,268,124 Jennings June 4, 1918 1,493,905 Stine May 13, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 167,855 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1921 102,259 Austria Jan. 11, 1926 664,646 France Apr. 23, 1929 

